As the 2017 IFTA Irish Film & Drama Awards nominations were announced at lunchtime on Wednesday 8th March International Women’s Day. It seems appropriate that we recognise and congratulate the 45 talented women who have been nominated for their working talents and contributions within the industry.

Five female producers have been nominated within the Best Irish Film category, across the six nominated films. These include; Juliette Bonass (‘A Date for Mad Mary’), Katie Holly and Lauranne Bourrachot (‘Love & Friendship’), Julie Ryan (‘The Young Offenders’) and Liz Gill (‘Tomato Red’).

Usually seen as one of the biggest accolades of the awards ceremony it is worthy to note that 2017 Awards see’s four out of the six overall films nominated for Best Irish Film representing strong female-led storylines.

Jim Sheridan’s ‘The Secret Scripture’ centres on the reminiscences of Rose McNulty an Irish woman who has spent over fifty years in state institutions. In ‘A Date for Mad Mary’ we watch as Seána Kerslake who received an IFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Lead Role plays ‘Mad’ Mary Mc Ardle as she returns to Drogheda after a short spell in prison. ‘Love & Friendship’ based on Jane Austen's 'Lady Susan' concerns the young widow Lady Susan as she comes to the estate of her in-laws and decides to secure herself a husband. In ‘Tomato Red’ we see redheaded Jamalee entangle the small town drifter Sammy Barlach into her web of longing, desire and revenge.

Irish actresses Caoilfhionn Dunne ‘In View’, Catherine Walker ‘A Dark Song’, Aisling Loftus ‘Property of the State’, Seána Kerslake ‘A Date for Mad Mary’ and Ruth Negga ‘Loving’ all received IFTA nominations for Best Actress in a Lead Role in Film with Ruth also receiving a second IFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Lead Role in Drama for her role in ‘Preacher’ alongside other Irish actresses Catriona Balfe ‘Outlander’, Elaine Cassidy ‘No Offense’, Anne Marie Duff ‘Muder: The Lost Weekend’ and Amy Huberman for her lead role playing Solicitor Tara Flynn in the RTÉ One legal drama ‘Striking Out’.

Female nominations dominate both the Costume Design and Makeup & Hair categories with the Oscar nominated Consolata Boyle ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ up against Joan Bergin ‘The Secret Scripture’, Triona Lillis ‘An Klondike’ and Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh ‘Love & Friendship’ in the Best Costume Design category with her ‘Love & Friendship’ colleague production designer Anna Rackard representing woman as the only female nomination in the Best Production Design category.

Úna Ní Dhonghaíle ‘The Crown’ is also the only female nominee within the Editing category alongside Colin Campbell ‘The Young Offenders’, Dermot Diskin ‘The Secret Scripture’, and Nick Emerson ‘I am Not a Serial Killer’. Úna’s is leading female editor across numerous award-winning TV dramas and feature length documentaries. Her editing credits include ‘The Missing’, ‘Wallander’, ‘Ripper Street and ‘Doctor Who’ to name a few.

The annual Awards Ceremony taking place at the Round Room of the Mansion House on Saturday 8th April 2017.

See below for the full list of all 45 women nominated across the 2017 IFTA Film & Drama Awards.